The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-09-29
she recognize as Mary Calhone's, Mrs.
Graham's kitchen maid.

and come out of this stuporl She tried
to move, to scream, but all to no pur-
pose; sudden, thick darkness seemed
envcloping her, and she sank into in
sensibi.ity.
When she again opened her eyes !,
was night; tho curtains were down, a
lamp burned on the table, but was turned
low down, and the figure of a strange
woman was moving about the room
putting things to rights.
"Who are you' What has happcncdT
asked Mrs. Stanhope, in scarcely audi
bic voice and with difficulty arising to
sitting posture.
20, have you walked up!' said tho
woman, coming over TO the lounge where
she sat. "And you don't know9 deary
ne! how can l tell you! Your little
boy, your little Freddy, you will never
see him alive againw
"Ncver- see--Frcddy-- alive! Wha,
do you mcan!' gaspcd Mrs. Stanhope,
starting up and cropping blindly across
the room to the door, As she opened it
she met her husband, who took her
gently in his arms, soothcd her tcndcrly,
and in broken voice told her that Mr..
Atoms cross cow had by some means
escaped from the yard into the road that
afternoon, and that Freddy had teased
her through the fence with his red scarf;
that in her rage she hal broken down
the fence, AMI, before Towser and Kitty
could rescue him, plunged one OF her
horns through Freddys body, killing
him instantly.
20, why cannot I die too!' she
walled, wringing her hands distractedly.
"My Freddy! my precious boy! my
darling baby! have murdered you by
my thoughtlcss selfishuess! o, let me
diew
After while she became moro calm
sort Of numb despair seized her heart;
she could not weep and when they led
her to look at the little waxcn form ar
rayed for burial, she could only look at
the white, set face OF her darling as he
lay there, with roses strcwn about him
and snowdrops in his chubby hands,
with weary longing to lie down too
and be at rest. Tears seemed swelling
up in scalding floods over her brain,
burning deep, scathing blisters there,
but she could not shed one.
At length the day Of the fun eral came;
how spectrc-like it all seemed every one
moved about SO quiet, so death like; she
could not even remember a word the
minister said. The procession formed;
they placed heavy black vail over her
face that seemed to increase the already
midnight gloom of her heart. They
reached the cemetery; the little casket
wa, lowered into the grave and she heard
the gravel rattle upon the lid; yes, they
! were burying her precious treasure, her
all, forever from her sight and yet she
could not weep, she had not dropped
one tear on the loved face; the thought
tore her heart with agony, and she felt
her mind reel and totter on its throne.
Again she was at home. How still
and silent tho room, were and how dark
and gloomy; it seemed as though she
was never again to see the bright,
glorious sunshine. So weeks passed.
She caught a glimpse of her own face in
the mirror once in while, and she could
see how thin and white it was growing.
Then came whispers-no one seemed to
speak out loud now--that a change of
scene was necessary; tho beach or the
mountains.
Mechanically she made preparations to
leave lone; it was the night before her
departure, and she strobe out 10 the
cemetery to visit Fredly's grave.
"Oh, my poor murdered darling!" she
moaned, sinking upon the grave in an
abandon of fearless grief
"Lucy! Lucy! what is the matterl
Amt you never going to wake up7'
said her husbands voice, close to her
ear.
With start, she raised her head and
looked about her Yes, it was Walter
that was bending over hei, and strange
to tell she was lying upon the lounge in
her little sitting room, and the sun was
just flinging his parting rays into the
west window. How cosy and cheerful
everything looked; and, glancing up
into her husbands face she saw he was
laughing.
What! did you have the nightmarea,
he exclaimed.
"IIushr' she answered in whisper,
"where is Freddy9'
Freddy" echoed Mr.. Stanhope
"why he is asleep. After teasing At
toms COW until she tore the yard fence
nearly all down, and getting Towser in,
to a fine scrape, for he bit the cow Sc
verely, and she run one of her horns
through his leg, and frightening Kitty
near.y out of her senses, he ha'
concluded to go to sleep"
Yes, it was cruel dream, and Lucy
Stanhope wcpt tears of joy; but she
could not feel sure until she had pressed
her lips to Freddy's aad felt his sof
breath upon her cheek
1t wars long time before she coult
tell her husband her terrible dream
and she never again sent Freddy ava,
from her for the sake of quict.-[Ncy
York News.
The Business for the Boy.
Ea,J ID, 4